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More reflections on U.S. vote

Thu., Nov. 17, 2016

Re: Clinton and the media never understood him, Opinion Nov. 14

Re: Trumpland damning for our country, wallets, Nov. 12

Clinton and the media never understood him, Opinion Nov. 14

Having liberal tendancies, I enthusiastically supported Hillary Clinton in her campaign, convinced that she would easily vanquish Donald Trump, and build upon the Obama legacy. Then the election went the way it went, and we are where we are.

In Monday’s Star, articles by Rosie DiManno and Heather Mallick continue the safe, smug line that has been balm for my liberal soul this past year: Trump is ill-prepared for the job, how could voters be so stupid as to choose such a narcissistic, xenophobic, homophobic, misogynistic joke?

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This article by Ken Dryden represented a major change. How about accepting that people voting for Trump saw some sense of hope for themselves that they didn’t see in Hillary? That most media lived in a bubble that took little notice of a large number of Americans who felt left behind?

This is indeed where I agree that we should be going, given that the battle for the White House and Congress is over for now. We have to stop questioning the legitimacy of the president-elect and move on.

I will monetarily support opposition to future legislative proposals on women’s rights and climate change with which I disagree, but we have to stop fighting an election that is over.

Marv Gold, Toronto

It is disturbing to see so many (white) pundits claiming Trump voters aren’t really as racist, sexist, or xenophobic as their words and actions make them out to be. Ken Dryden seems to be another one who has jumped on 2016’s version of the “it’s the economy, stupid” refrain.

Heather Mallick’s mantra, “Never underestimate how much you are hated,” is sadly more accurate, not just for women, but for blacks and Muslims and other racial and religious minorities. One only has to read the pages of the Star (67 per cent of Canadians agree with Kellie Leitch’s Canadian values test; another water crisis in a First Nations community) to see how widespread the hatred is.

Ken Dryden’s claim that “Trump supporters aren’t likely any more racist, xenophobic and misogynistic than anyone else” is true to the extent that we are all more racist, xenophobic and misogynistic than we like to admit, to ourselves and others.

Taya Talukdar, Toronto

Thank you Rosie DiManno for giving expression to what so many of your readers feel. Right to the point and with emotion. I would have added that we don’t have to go to the sci-fi movies anymore to see time travellers. In Trump we have a man who is living in the thirties – all-white society, no unions to speak of, industry with no restrictions, no climate warming, no limit to resources, minimum welfare and the rich are the great heroes.

As for politicians of that era, he would not look out of place and would probably be comfortable sitting at a table with Hitler and Mussolini. Now he will sit with Putin. They will understand each other.

Such is the bleak outlook for at least the next four years. And the media will be Trump all the time Trump.

Where can I hide?

David Gladstone, Toronto

I find it quite remarkable that hoards of Democrats have been encouraged to go out on the streets and complain viciously about the election of Trump. Whatever the people think of him and however disappointed they might be, this is untoward behaviour without precedent.

The media seem to accept this unacceptable behaviour and in fact express a certain empathy with the protesters’ vicious screams and anger. I can only imagine what would have occurred had Hillary Clinton won the election and Republicans took to the streets to protest her presidency. I imagine hoards of police, batons flying and jail time for many.

Trump was elected president and that should be the end of it. However disappointed the Democrats might be, in every election there is a disappointed, unhappy group. This does give them the right to vicious, unacceptable protesting.

Neither of the two candidates deserve to be president. However, Trump was chosen by the country and is now president. It’s time those disappointed – and vicious – protesters accepted reality and went home. It’s also time the media stopped supporting such untoward protests.

Frances Weingarten, Toronto

Now that Trump is president-elect, it may be time to send the venerable lady in the New York harbour north, the one who has an inscription on her base instructing visitors to American shores to send the world’s tired and poor, its huddled masses yearning to breath free, the wretched refuse of teeming shores, the homeless and tempest tossed to her.

“I lift my lamp beside the golden door,” her imagined words proclaim. Somewhere near the mouth of the St. Lawrence would be fitting; Canada, however imperfectly, still tries to do such things. America has elected someone who wants to slam that golden door shut.

Viola G. Stephens, Tottenham

Trumpland damning for our country, wallets, Nov. 12

I agree with Gordon Pape that our currency will drop. And it has been ever since Donald Trump was elected president of the U.S.

He suggests “if you’re planning to travel south this winter, convert your money now.” I have been travelling south yearly on all-inclusive vacation packages. While I don’t spend much while on vacation, prices for these packages have been increasing sharply. The cost for tour operators to book hotels and related costs are in U.S. dollars.

Overlooked by Mr. Pape is a concern for Canadians carrying debt. President-elect Trump’s recently announced infrastructure spending will have an inflationary impact on the U.S. economy. U.S. interest rates will certainly rise when this happens, putting further downward pressure on the Canadian dollar. The result will be either a significant increase in our cost of living, or an increase in the Bank of Canada rate to shore up our currency’s value. And any rate increase can result in a significant number of personal bankruptcies.

For me, I’ll probably pass on travelling south this winter and vacation somewhere in Canada. My small part in boosting our economy.

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